Woven geotextile silt fence with stabilizing features for trench or trenchless installations

A method of installing a silt fence for erosion, sediment and pollution control comprising the steps of:

• providing a single layer geotextile silt fence fabric coupled to a plurality of stakes, the single layer geotextile silt fence fabric having a Mullen burst strength of at least 400 PSI, having a trapezoidal tear strength of at least 50 LBS×at least 50 LBS, having an apparent size opening of at least 40 US Std Sieve, and having a tensile strength of at least 200 LBS, and with a plurality of stakes including trench engaging stabilizing fins, and each stabilizing fin including a bury depth indicator;
• digging a trench that is deeper than a length of the trench engaging fins;
• placing the silt fence with the trench engaging stabilizing fins within the trench to the height of the bury depth indicator;
• filling the trench to install the silt fence.

A trenchless method of installing a silt fence for erosion, sediment and pollution control, comprising the steps of:

• providing a silt fence bundle comprising a plurality of spaced wooded or metal stakes and a single layer geotextile silt fence fabric coupled to the spaced wooded or metal stakes and including an integral ground engaging apron formed by the single layer geotextile silt fence fabric, the single layer geotextile silt fence fabric having a Mullen burst strength of at least 400 PSI, having a trapezoidal tear strength of at least 50 LBS×at least 50 LBS, having an apparent size opening of at least 40 US Std Sieve, and having a tensile strength of at least 200 LBS;
• driving the plurality of spaced wooded or metal stakes into the ground until the integral ground engaging apron formed by the single layer geotextile silt fence fabric is flush with the ground;
• and
• staking the ground engaging apron to the ground with staking elements.